Kemi Badenoch has issued a final appeal to voters to stop the SNP from 'doing more damage to this great nation'. The Conservative leader kicked off the week of the Holyrood election by urging voters to prevent an SNP majority and another 'divisive and distracting' independence referendum, which she says is 'the last thing Scotland needs'.
She issued her final appeal to pro-Union voters as latest polling revealed the SNP is on course to fall narrowly short of a majority and suffer a slump in support compared to the last election in 2021 – although nearly one in five Scots are still undecided.
Mrs Badenoch told the Mail Thursday's election is about 'the future of Scotland'. She said: 'John Swinney has said he will hold a vote for a referendum on the first day Holyrood gets back after the election. The threat of a divisive and distracting referendum could not be more real. Keir Starmer is now so weak in Westminster that I suspect he would cave in to the SNP's demands. Meanwhile, the Greens have committed to Scottish independence and Reform candidates have also previously supported breaking up the UK.'
'Another referendum is the last thing Scotland needs. In Scotland and across the UK we need our political leaders focused on tackling the cost of living and fixing broken public services. That means cutting spending so we can cut tax, back business and get Britain working again. But if the SNP win a majority, that will hand John Swinney unchecked power to pursue his ambition of breaking up Britain, while continuing to punish Scots with high taxes and poor public services.'
She insisted the Scottish Tories have been the only party 'with the strength and resolve to stand up to the SNP' over the last five years, on issues including high taxes, welfare spending and 'dangerous' gender self-ID. In a direct appeal to Mail readers, Mrs Badenoch added: 'Russell Findlay has been the only leader in the Scottish election campaign to stand firm against John Swinney's referendum threat. There is one way to do that. Scottish Daily Mail readers should back the Scottish Conservatives, wherever you live, on the peach-coloured ballot paper on May 7.'
Party leaders are due to launch their final push for votes today. Mr Findlay will be joined by his predecessor as Scottish Tory leader, Douglas Ross, in Edinburgh as he steps up the party's regional list push. Yesterday, he visited Eastwood in Renfrewshire, to offer his support to another former Scottish Tory leader, Jackson Carlaw, who is hoping to hold the constituency seat.
Mr Swinney will campaign in Dumfries, where the two constituencies covering the south-west town were both won by the Tories in 2021. The First Minister will target voters who oppose Reform, saying: 'The best way to keep Reform out of power is by electing a majority SNP government – one that supports people with the cost of living, locks out Nigel Farage and delivers the fresh start of independence.'
